Vector directional polymer systems and methods of nano-structural self assembly

Abstract

Vector-directional polymers and polymer systems are disclosed. In accordance with the embodiments of the invention, the polymer has aromatic moieties that are restrained or fixed through conformational linkage units bonding nearest neighbor aromatic moieties together to form the polymer backbone. The conformational linkage units preferably include conformational ring structures which exhibit hydrogen bonding or other Lewis acid-Lewis base type of interactions. The conformational ring structures can include hetero-atoms and cationic metal atoms. The chemical groups and bonding features of the polymer backbone constrain bond movement and bond rotation along the polymer backbone. Accordingly, the vector-directional polymers of the present invention can assemble into or form extended three dimensional structures or arrays.

1. A polymer comprising a backbone structure, wherein the backbone structure comprising aromatic moieties that are bonded together through conformational linkage units, wherein the conformation linkage comprising a structure represented by the formula [—C(O)═N—], wherein the oxygen atom, the nitrogen atom, or both atoms couples with the aromatic moieties forming conformational ring structure that fix the conformation of the aromatic moieties and give the polymer vector directionality. 
     
     
       2. The polymer of  claim 1 , wherein the conformational linkage units include direct bond linkages of 2 to 6 atoms. 
     
     
       3. The polymer of  claim 2 , wherein the conformational linkage units include one or more five-membered or six-membered conformational ring structures. 
     
     
       4. The polymer of  claim 3 , wherein the conformational ring structures include metal atoms. 
     
     
       5. The polymer of  claim 4 , wherein the metal atoms are cationic s-block group I or group II metal atoms selected from the group consisting of lithium, beryllium, sodium, magnesium, potassium and calcium. 
     
     
       6. The polymer of  claim 3 , wherein the conformational ring structures include hetero-atoms, wherein the hetero-atoms are selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur. 
     
     
       7. The polymer of  claim 6 , wherein the conformational ring structures include metal atoms. 
     
     
       8. The polymer of  claim 1 , wherein the aromatic moieties are heterocyclic aromatic moieties. 
     
     
       9. The polymer of  claim 8 , wherein the heterocyclic aromatic moieties include nitrogen atoms. 
     
     
       10. The polymer of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer backbone forms repeating units, wherein the repeating units are columnar structures, tube structures or sheet structures defined by the polymer backbone. 
     
     
       11. A vector directional polymer forming and extended array of repeating polymer backbones, wherein the polymer backbones comprise conformational linkages forming conformational heterocyclic structure that bond nearest neighbor aromatic moieties, wherein at least one of the nearest neighbor aromatic moieties comprises a heterocyclic aromatic moiety, wherein the heterocyclic aromatic moiety couples with the conformational linkages forming the conformational heterocyclic structure that fixes the conformational structure of the neighbor aromatic moieties. 
     
     
       12. The polymer of  claim 11 , wherein the conformational heterocyclic structures form direct bond linkages that include 2 to 6 atoms that covalently bond nearest neighbor aromatic moieties. 
     
     
       13. The polymer of  claim 12 , wherein the conformational heterocyclic structures include one or more of nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur atoms. 
     
     
       14. The polymer of  claim 11 , wherein the heterocyclic aromatic moieties include nitrogen atoms. 
     
     
       15. The polymer of  claim 11 , wherein the polymer backbones form columnar structures, tube structures or sheet structures defined by the polymer backbones. 
     
     
       16. A polymer aromatic moieties bonded through conformational ring structures that are conformational heterocyclic structures and that include direct bond linkages of 2-6 atoms that directly bond neighboring aromatic moieties, wherein the conformation structure comprising a structure represented by the formula [—C(O)═N—], wherein the oxygen atom, the nitrogen atom, or both atoms couples with the aromatic moieties forming conformational ring structure that fix the conformation of the aromatic moieties and give the polymer vector directionality. 
     
     
       17. The polymer of  claim 16 , wherein the conformational heterocyclic structures include one or more of nitrogen atoms, oxygen atoms and sulfur atoms. 
     
     
       18. The polymer of  claim 16 , wherein the aromatic moieties are heterocyclic aromatic moieties. 
     
     
       19. The polymer of  claim 18 , wherein the heterocyclic aromatic moieties include nitrogen atoms. 
     
     
       20. The polymer of  claim 16 , wherein the polymer forms columnar structures, tube structures or sheet structures. 
     
     
       21. The polymer of  claim 16 , wherein the conformational ring structures include metal atoms. 
     
     
       22. The polymer of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the aromatic moieties comprises a function group having a proton capable of forming a hydrogen bond with an atom on the conformational linkage units. 
     
     
       23. The polymer of  claim 8 , wherein the conformational linkage units comprise at least one proton capable of forming a hydrogen bond with at least one of the heterocyclic aromatic moieties. 
     
     
       24. A polymer with an backbone structure comprising conformational linkage units having a structure represented by the formula [—Ar(OH)—C(OH)═N-Ht(OH)—], wherein Ht are heterocycles comprising hetero-atoms, wherein the hetero-atoms being positioned beta relative to nitrogen atoms forming the conformational linkage units, wherein the backbone structure comprising aromatic moieties that are bonded together through the conformational linkage units that fix the conformation of the aromatic moieties and give the polymer vector directionality. 
     
     
       25. The polymer of  claim 1 , wherein the oxygen atom, the nitrogen atom, or both atoms of the conformational linkage units directly connect to at least one of the aromatic moieties.